Startup Spotlight
How early-stage food and beverage brands are navigating tight capital in 2026
Early-stage founders share how they’re reinventing indulgent foods while navigating one of the toughest fundraising environments in recent years
Snacks
Mars-Kellanova: The $36bn merger transforming the snacking sector
Mars’ $36bn takeover of Kellanova is reshaping the global snacking landscape, combining two powerhouse portfolios and igniting innovation
Diet Trends
Rethinking sweetness in an age of sugar skepticism
As shoppers scrutinize labels and headlines, brands are rethinking sweetness strategies to deliver lower sugar, clearer messaging and commercially viable reformulations
Diet Trends
Fiber’s comeback: Why snacks are embracing the next functional macro
Fiber is making a comeback in snacks as gut health trends, GLP-1 use and clean-label demands reshape functional food innovation
US Dietary Guidelines sideline MyPlate in favor of inverted food pyramid
The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans spotlight an inverted food pyramid, effectively sidelining MyPlate and sparking debate among nutrition experts and educators
Ingredients Compendium No. 1: L-theanine
The need for calm drives a green tea amino acid into the snack aisle
In a world that feels louder, faster and harder to switch off, L-theanine is finding a new role in snacks
Top 5 trends shaping healthy dairy snacking
From cheese bites to RTD beverages, dairy is primed for success in the healthy snacking space
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
6 food trends giving consumers more of what they want
At the Winter Fancy Faire, the Specialty Food Association revealed six emerging trends reshaping how consumers engage with food and beverage as they seek more value as inflation and GLP-1 use cut into volume and dollar sales
Mondelez, Uncle Saba’s: Nostalgia and mindfulness shaping snack trends
Sentimentality and health are increasingly influencing consumer snack choices, as they seek comfort, tradition and emotional connection in their purchases
Kraft Heinz demerger: Will the $28.7bn break-up pay off?
After the collapse of a major merger, Kraft Heinz plans to split into two companies. Will this bold move unlock growth or expose new risks?
How the Dietary Guidelines may shape product strategy and development
The latest Dietary Guidelines may not reinvent the wheel, but they offer manufacturers a roadmap to balance nutrition, consumer preference and formulation strategy across sweeteners, grains and processed foods, according to one expert
Is cycle syncing the next big thing in women’s nutrition?
Cycle‑syncing nutrition is exploding, and brands are betting big. Is this the next major wave in women’s health?
Top 5 longevity trends shaping food and drink
Longevity is redefining consumer behaviour. Here are the top five nutrition trends every food and beverage brand needs to know
Sugar, stocks and scrutiny: Mondelez, Kraft and General Mills caught in Trump’s nutrition reset
The market reaction to Donald Trump’s dietary overhaul isn’t about kale versus cookies – it’s about whether Washington has finally decided the packaged food sector needs firmer rules, not friendlier guidance
How the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines are shifting America’s plate – and sparking debate
The newest Dietary Guidelines emphasize whole foods, protein and animal fats – a shift praised by some experts as overdue, but others warn the report is retro and insufficient
The AI revolution sweeping food and drink
From autonomous R&D to real‑time supply chain resilience, AI is redefining the rules of food and beverage. Is industry ready for the next era?
Retailers are reshaping access to healthy and affordable diets
Although top retailers highlight affordability and health, healthier products tend to be more expensive and promotional strategies are not typically used to drive their sales
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Consumers are ready to say ‘yes’ to ingredients again – if brands give them a reason
New insights from Cargill reveal a shift from fear-based food decisions to a more intentional, benefits-driven mindset that is reshaping how consumers consider health, indulgence and value when buying food and beverages
US consumers drive surge in supplement ingredients within snacks and beverages
Shifting consumer behavior and social-first discovery are pushing traditional dietary supplement ingredients into everyday food and beverage formats, according to new data from NIQ and Spate.
Why collagen is set to dominate 2026
Collagen is transforming food, drink and confectionery. Discover why this powerhouse ingredient is set to dominate innovation in 2026
2026 Trendspotting
Packaging trends to watch in 2026: Data, transparency and compliance will redefine innovation
2026 promises to be a pivotal moment for packaging for food and beverage CPG as innovation shifts from flashy materials to more precision, credibility and data-based decision-making
Trendspotting 2026
Trendspotting 2026: Why shoppers are ditching extreme diets and embracing balance
Mintel dives into the food trends of 2026 — where perseverance, playfulness and practical products meet at the grocery aisle
Trendspotting 2026
Top 2026 marketing challenge for CPGs: Balancing algorithms and authenticity
Consumers increasingly want human connection without compromising the convenience AI offers – complicating product development, storytelling and engagement strategies for food brands
Kraft Heinz names Steve Cahillane CEO ahead of planned split
Seasoned CPG executive Steve Cahillane will serve as CEO as Kraft Heinz prepares to split into two standalone companies
GLP-1 adoption is rising steadily – and reshaping pack size, portfolio strategy and volume
Rising GLP-1 adoption is quietly reshaping pack size strategy, category risk and marketing priorities for food and beverage brands
Gluten‑free: Trends reshaping a booming market
Gluten‑free growth is shifting. Discover the sectors surging ahead and the trends transforming the market
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
The GLP-1 effect: How 2026 will look for food and beverage
From shifting grocery habits to new product opportunities, Circana’s insights reveal how brands and retailers can adapt to the rise of GLP-1 users
Mars completes Kellanova acquisition in deal set to reshape snacking
Mars and Kellanova join forces in a landmark deal set to reshape the global snacking industry
Snackquake: PepsiCo’s 20% SKU chop signals a value reset in American snacking
PepsiCo’s deal with Elliott Investment Management has triggered sweeping cuts to its snack portfolio and a shift toward sharper pricing
3 strategies bolstering Campbell’s snack portfolio amid category slowdown
Targeted innovation, seasonal flavors and premiumization are delivering “worth-it” experiences to help maintain share even as snack volumes soften
GLP-1 has changed the snack game: Here’s how to win it back
GLP-1 users are rewriting the rules of appetite, texture and indulgence. Tate & Lyle’s latest research shows exactly where producers are missing the moment
Next steps for Mars’ $20m climate-smart rice initiative
Mars Food & Nutrition invested $20 million to help rice farmers adopt climate-smart practices that reduce water usage and greenhouse gas emissions while protecting yields
Calbee’s Asian-inspired flavors aims to drive US snack innovation
From shrimp chips to takoyaki balls, Calbee is turning US snack aisles into a passport for adventurous, authentic Asian flavors
Soup-To-Nuts Podcast
Danone reveals what is next for protein
With demand for protein climbing but understanding about different types and benefits lagging, Danone unveils how it is helping consumers move beyond grams per serving to understand quality, digestibility, differences in plant- and animal-based options...
Festive, fabulous and gone in a flash: The LTOs everyone should be chasing
This year’s festive one-offs range from a cult trifle to resurrected ‘80s snacks and a Christmas sandwich that thinks it’s royalty
Startup Spotlight
AI that speaks the language of CPG
What the food and beverage market needs isn’t just another AI model — it needs artificial intelligence that understands CPG-specific business
The packaging advantage: How recyclability drives consumer loyalty
Why recyclable packaging drives consumer loyalty
Walmart and Coca-Cola see tariff pressures cresting, but growing consumer divide requires strategic marketing shift
With discretionary spending slipping among lower-income households, both companies are shifting investment and pricing tactics to follow changing shopper behavior
San Francisco sues Kellogg, General Mills, PepsiCo, Mondelez and more over ‘engineered’ foods
City officials say some of America’s biggest brands helped shape eating habits that are now coming back to haunt public health budgets
Hidden Valley Ranch draws in Gen Z home cooks with NYC pop-up
Turning real estate constraints into real brand estate
The ‘radically simple’ sweet snack revolution that’s getting juicy
Sweet snack trends are tilting toward simpler, fruit-forward formulations – and Solely’s approach is drawing fresh attention from retailers
Trend Tracker: Salt-free condiments, Mars Wrigley Gen Z focus and more
Salt-free condiments, Mars Wrigley Gen Z focus and more feature in this edition of Trend Tracker
Smucker’s Sweet Baked Snacks take a hit as Hostess reset bites into Q2
The J.M. Smucker Co.’s latest results show a business broadly on track, but its Sweet Baked Snacks segment is clearly in the painful middle of a reset
Hershey’s salty strategy
The confectionery giant’s latest move – snapping up LesserEvil – pulls it deeper into the everyday snacking landscape it’s been circling for years
What’s popular this Thanksgiving? Brining, baking and brand buzz
From budget-friendly feasts to playful twists, brands are blending affordability, nostalgia and creativity to win over holiday hosts
Top 5 F&B ingredients trends driving market growth towards $560bn
The global food and beverage ingredients market is booming. But what are the trends powering industry growth?
Biscuits, cookies & crackers: What’s trending now and into 2026
Premium treats, grab-and-go minis and a burst of festive innovation are giving the aisle more energy than it’s had in years
Cocoa’s gone wild: Could malted barley flour be the calm in the chaos?
With cocoa costs spiraling, Briess is pitching malted barley flour as a reliable, clean label lifeline for bakers and snack makers
Beauty from within: How functional foods are blurring the line between skincare and nutrition
As the beauty-from-within movement gains momentum, food and beverage brands are turning to collagen, antioxidants and other functional ingredients to deliver skincare benefits from the inside out
Emulsifiers in food and beverage: Market growth and health risks
New research linking omnipresent emulsifiers to gut damage and obesity is raising tough questions for manufacturers